Richard Potter

Richard Eugene Potter (74) born December 3, 1946, passed away November 20, 2021, at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT after battling Covid-19.

Richard is survived by his loving wife Stephania Janovec Potter, his two sons Samuel Potter (his wife Tanya Potter) and Daniel Potter (his wife Michelle Potter), and his step son Kaarlo Jonas (Erin Mueller). He also has several grandchildren and great grandchildren including Jericca Verumchuk (Deema Verumchuk), Shane Potter, Kian Potter, Sabrina Potter, Spencer Potter, Maylie Dodge, Eric Dodge, Lexis Moody (Scott Moody), Dwayne Perry, Tyler Perry, step-grandchildren Hyrum Lentz, Rebekah Lentz, Rachel Lentz, Ruth Lentz, and Joseph Lentz.

The 1st of two children of Oliver Eugene Potter and Vivian Both Potter, Richard lived a wholesome life as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Missionaries introduced Richard’s family to the Gospel. Richard was 5 years old when his parents joined the church in Vancouver, Washington. At the time it was a Branch of 25 members. As a young man, he served a mission for the church in the Southwest Indian Mission of New Mexico and Arizona serving the Pueblo Nations. During his mission, Richard was one of the few males who has ever served as the Relief Society President. His mission companion served as the Bishop. Over the years he served in various callings, from Primary to Young Mens, Elders Quorum and in the High Priest Group.

Richard and his wife, Stephania were Endowment Workers in the Portland Temple.  They  recently were service missionaries in the Washington Vancouver Mission. The early Vancouver Branch, when Richard’s family joined, covered almost the same size area of the Vancouver Mission.

Richard was a veteran of the Vietnam War and honorably served in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army during the late 60’s and 70’s. Richard was an Expert Marksman and completed his service in the armed forces as a Captain in the US Army. Richard had been a Commander in the American Legion Cape Horn Post 122. And a member of the American Legion Post 44 in Ridgefield, Washington.

Richard was immediately liked by all those who met him and his kind spirit shined through his subtle personality. He loved the outdoors and fishing was a passion of his. He was also a business owner with businesses such a tree farm and together with his wife Stephania, (Janovec Redwoods) in Washington State where they had many types of evergreens  and even some Redwood trees that were planted by his in-law’s Joachim Joseph Janovec and Martha Meza Janovec, who started the tree farm back in the 1960’s.

Richard grew up in Vancouver, Washington in his early years, attending grammar school before moving to Washougal, Washington just a few miles East of Vancouver where he attended middle school. He then moved to the little town of Dufur, Oregon, which is located near the Columbia River Gorge, and attended and graduated from Dufur High School. He was on the football team and sang in the school and church choir. After high school, he was a cowboy working for local ranchers and wheat farmers and was one of the last Gandy Dancers, which is someone who laid and maintained railroad tracks before machines took over the work. He went to graduate from BYU in 1974 with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Military Science. He went on to work as a low voltage technician and other various jobs as well as an entrepreneur owning several businesses. Richard and his wife Stephania helped to form the Vancouver Farmers Market. He was the second Market Master for the Market. And for a few years, he and Stephania owned and operated a carpet cleaning business.  Stephania always said “that was the wrong kind of dirt”.  They also owned and operated a fruit stand and natural food store in Camas, Washington

Richard Potter’s funeral services will be held December 3, 2021 at the Stansbury Park Stake Center located at 417 Benson Road, Stansbury Park, UT 84074. Visitation will begin at 10AM followed by the funeral service starting at 11AM. Following the funeral service we will go to the Stansbury Park Cemetery, just 2 blocks North of the church, at 12 noon where members of the US Armed Forces will perform a Military Ceremony, play “Taps” and present the American Flag to Richard’s surviving wife Stephania Potter. The cemetery is located at 130 Brigham Road, Stansbury Park, UT 84074 (This is the address of the elementary school located 1 driveway to the West of the cemetery as the cemetery has no official address).